MEET THE TEAM

Learn from the Best

THIS IS MORE THAN A GYM MEMBERSHIP.

WE’RE A FITNESS SUPPORT SYSTEM.

Scott Kratochvil

Co-owner

With over 15 years in the fitness industry, Scott has helped thousands of clients and hundreds of trainers. He has been a personal trainer, training manager, general manager, program builder, and instructor at the National Personal Training Institute. His passion has always been mentoring people in fitness, health, and all-around wellness.

Scott was put on his first diet in first grade and struggled with yo-yo dieting until his early 20’s, motivating him to learn the science of health, fitness, weight loss, and physical healing. He continues to educate himself, learning something new every day to provide the best insights for clients.

He has trained clients as young as 8, up to the young-at-heart age of 92. His background in movement for healing, martial arts, weight lifting, strength building, meditation, and injury prevention gives him the flexibility to train fresh-off-the-couch clients, high-level athletes, and everyone in between. His goal is you make you the best version of yourself.

Barb Lass

Co-owner

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast, Barb has always been willing to push herself and try new workouts. In the late 2000’s she was introduced to Russian kettlebells and was hooked. While training to become certified, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, seemingly out of nowhere. Learning how to eat right and supplement helped her overcome debilitating pain and become level I and II Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) certified.

Barb focuses on teaching proper form to keep her clients injury free, watching them grown in confidence and strength. Fitness and wellness aren’t quick fixes, they’re lifelong commitments that you need to love (even if it feels like a love/hate relationship sometimes). Barb finds ways to get people excited about pushing themselves to the next level.

Strengthen the body to empower the individual. Learning proper form and how to eat right takes the guesswork out of fitness, making it easier to put in the work each day. Barb maintains a comfortable environment where you can have fun while making a positive impact on your life!

Geraldine “Geri”

Yoga Instructor, Trainer, Healing & Rehab

Geri is a teacher at heart, it’s her calling. She taught Health and Wellness in public schools for 25 years before beginning her second career as a yoga instructor and Thai body worker. She uses her educational experience to create well-planned classes accessible to all levels. Geri’s able to meet individual needs of students on the fly and create unique modifications when necessary. She’s passionate about self-care, healing through movement, and breath practice, techniques accessible to everyone.

Outside the studio, you can find her making memories with family and friends, sharing good meals, experiencing live music, traveling, and watching hockey, of course.

Chris C

Trainer: Group Instructor & Rehab Specialist

For over 15 years, Chris has gained a wide range of skill and abilities to bring to the table. Starting as a therapist and trainer for Brookings Hospital Cardiac Rehab, he worked with clients of all ages. He helped with rehab in movement, strength, and balance as part the recovery process for over 2 years.

For the next 6 years, he was lead trainer and group fitness instructor for two major fitness centers, bringing top-level education and training to all members. Since then, Chris has spent over 8 years doing personal training and rehabilitation at a rehab and wellness center in the Minneapolis/Fridley area.

This outstanding amount of experience and knowledge makes Chris a terrific asset for your fitness goals.

Chris S

Trainer: Group Instructor & Rehab Specialist

Chris is a prime example of what we’re all about. As someone who’s always been into fitness, working out, and continuous learning, he was excelling as a client when he first met Barb and Scott. Back in 2013 they were at another fitness facility, and spent over a year training together.

That’s when Chris was inspired to become a personal trainer, enrolling at the National Personal Training Institute and graduating with highest honors. He also received several best-in-class awards and became a trainer at the institute, impressing himself with his ability to teach and train clients while expanding his own knowledge.

He brings a wide range of knowledge in health, wellness, and fitness that he continues to improve on. This includes a specialty in body-weight strength, balance, and conditioning, expanding the training options available to you.

Brenda P

Massage Therapist

Natural healing through massage is a passion of Brenda’s. A Massage Therapy graduate of 2008, she has years of experience with the Protege Fitness family. With a variety of techniques, she strives to make each client’s experience a positive one. Reducing pain or relieving stress, massage can have many positive effects on our health.

Brenda enjoys being in the sunshine, working out, gardening, spending time with her family and two cats, Frankie and Freckles.

Dr. Maria

Chiropractic, Trigger Point Therapy, Cupping, Muscle Work & Rehab

For over 30 years, Dr. Maria has been in the chiropractic practice, with a large integrated clinic in St. Louis Park for 26 years. She has a number of different adjusting techniques for the spine and extremities, used along with a variety of soft tissue techniques: massage, trigger-point therapy, active-release therapy, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, applied kinesiology, cupping, graston, gua sha, and acupuncture.

Experienced with a variety of clients, she has treated more pregnant women and babies than most chiropractors, making her comfortable with high-risk pregnancies and infants with congenital health issues. Her interest came from a sports injury in college, and has since treated sports, automobile, and workers’ comp injuries.